₦airaland Forum

247Hustler:
Getting a regular job, financing my education, and graduation

The same month, my uncle-in-law informed me about another job at a local brewery in their area. The company was into the brewing of alcoholic herbal mixtures. He introduced me to the manager and I resumed the following day. My job involved filling empty plastics with hot alcoholic mixtures, corcking, washing, labelling, packaging and arranging them in the store. The job had no fixed salary but the pay was according to how much an employee could work. Top employees who work there full-time usually made more than fifty thousand naira (#50,000) monthly. As for me, I didn’t have the strength, so I usually made about twenty to thirty thousand (#20,000 - 30,000) monthly during the break.

Now, this job was also very stressful but quite manageable when compared to the other one. Workers also enjoyed more freedom and autonomy here and the environment was always lively. The major problem here was that I often got intoxicated (99% of the time) during work due to the high ethanol (alcohol) content of the mixtures. It is funny to remember that I never tasted any of the mixtures even though I worked in the company for more than six months altogether. The second problem was that I often get hungry at work because of the alcohol content that I inhaled. As a result, a fair amount of my money was spent on food at work.

I did this job during all the long holidays, usually end-of-session breaks, while in school. This way, I was able to raise some of the money needed in the school for the new session. I also combined it with the little I can receive from my aunt before leaving for school.

Also worthy of note is the support from the friends I made in school. One of them specifically paid for my school fees in my penultimate and final years of university. May God bless you Kola. I also have another one that would cook and invite me to come and eat whenever I complained of hunger around him. Many thanks, Samuel. My third friend specifically introduced me to his family and that became my second house after school. Oluwaseun and his family are some of the kindest souls I have ever met. Lastly, remember the church member that brought food when I was admitted in the hospital? Yes, she always sent me a token every new session till I graduated.

In spite of all these, I maintained good grades in school and I was on first class from 100 level to 300 level. However, I didn't maintain it till graduation as I ended up with a second-class upper division, barely missing first class by 0.2. Sad

GreatKingg:
Oga, make una try dey calm down small small nah... shooo....

How can you just start throwing figures around like that?... What truck drivers make $30-50k a month... abeg calm down small..... don't mislead the guy at all....

Yes, truck drivers make money, but not that much.... not even half of what you quoted.

I will advise you go for number 1 on the list, which is IT....

Track some naija guys around, there are always different IT classes you can enroll in.... It won't cost you more than $3k-5k, and can take between 6 weeks to 12 weeks.... After the training, package your resume.... post on Indeed and Dice, and also package your Linkedln profile... that's all you need...

Meanwhile, find other jobs to do while taking the IT classes... cos you go need bar to take dey pay your bills and even pay for the class.... trust me, in about 6-8 months, you would be happy you did...

As for the others on the list (Medical Doctor and Nursing), those ones go still take you at least 4 years (Nursing), and at least 8-9 years for the Medical Doctor.... so the IT is your best choice for now...

Even the truck driving will still take you a while... cos you have to go through the driving school... and then you have to shadow someone, before you become a full driver..... If you decide to travel inter-state, there is money in it... but not even up to half of what was quoted here......

So use your sense.

AmuDimpka:
Kids of these days ... You think that life is all about bed of roses...

Keep trying dear

After nysc I did commission job for 2 yrs no salary OOO

247Hustler:
The American dream

The first time I ever conceived the idea of travelling to America was in 2018 when I was checking on my friend and senior colleague who travelled to the US at the same. In the course of our conversation, she gave me a faint idea of the process and the total cost. Although this was a great idea, I couldn’t act on it because I was fresh out of university, broke, jobless, and desperate for survival. Nonetheless, I decided to act on this idea after I lost my job in 2020.

Back in my apartment, I thought about my options and called my friend in Ibadan to discuss my plans, the chief of which was travelling out of the country even though I had no money to execute them. I also told him I would need to stay to leave Lagos and stay with him for some time. He agreed and I joined him in April 2020. During this time, I had already bought a mini laptop out of my savings and I had less than a hundred thousand (#100,000).

After a few days in my new place, my friend informed me that he had just secured a fully funded Master's scholarship to one of the major countries in Europe and I was so happy for him. This meant I have to figure out whatever I needed to do on time as he would be leaving the country soon. The news motivated me and gave me the sense of urgency I needed to execute my plans. For this reason, I started my research on the internet and joined a couple of WhatsApp groups for people travelling to the US, and within a few weeks, I gathered all the information needed to begin my US journey even though I had no money for the execution.

Mikael0407:
I am also at this phase right now. I pray that God that did it for you will do it for me also. Amen.

Adflex1:
Your Story is Very motivational, thank You for sharing. You really took the bull by the Horn.

The day I will drop mine here. The invisible pillers of Nairaland will shake, people will cry and they will also clap and smile for my success Story, For now let me keep pushing towards Victory.


Once again congratulations (247Hustler)

abidex0z:
Congratulations 👏🎉.....Your story really motivates me to keep on pushing on, because my cousin committed suicide in 2018 due to things not working out for him despite been denied us visa twice....

JoeEeL:
Lol zoogerians are funny people.

Politicians and their fellow slave masters have made people write epistles and testimonies all in d name of running away from their ancestral lands while these slave masters keep digging up natural resources on these lands with reckless abandon.

Black man, black man... Haha, improve your consciousness.

GreatKingg:
Oga, make una try dey calm down small small nah... shooo....

How can you just start throwing figures around like that?... What truck drivers make $30-50k a month... abeg calm down small..... don't mislead the guy at all....

Yes, truck drivers make money, but not that much.... not even half of what you quoted.

I will advise you go for number 1 on the list, which is IT....

Track some naija guys around, there are always different IT classes you can enroll in.... It won't cost you more than $3k-5k, and can take between 6 weeks to 12 weeks.... After the training, package your resume.... post on Indeed and Dice, and also package your Linkedln profile... that's all you need...

Meanwhile, find other jobs to do while taking the IT classes... cos you go need bar to take dey pay your bills and even pay for the class.... trust me, in about 6-8 months, you would be happy you did...

As for the others on the list (Medical Doctor and Nursing), those ones go still take you at least 4 years (Nursing), and at least 8-9 years for the Medical Doctor.... so the IT is your best choice for now...

Even the truck driving will still take you a while... cos you have to go through the driving school... and then you have to shadow someone, before you become a full driver..... If you decide to travel inter-state, there is money in it... but not even up to half of what was quoted here......

So use your sense.

oscarnoble:
What's the name of the school you allied for and how much did everything cost you ?

Joebryan:
Big congratulations, man. I'm really happy for you and thanks for sharing your story. It's so inspiring.

What I learned from your story is that, anybody can achieve anything if they put their mind to it and work towards it.

That is a great lesson.

And I hope some people who believes that they cannot make a fortune online, would read and learn from this.

After taking and failing on several salary jobs, your biggest victory came through freelancing.

A lot of talented Nigerians are struggling with salary jobs, some are getting underpaid and would even go broke before end of the month.

I have also experienced it. Ever since I left school, I have worked in just 3 different places but my monthly salaries from these 3 places combine together is not up to what I now make in a week with just my Sample phone and HP laptop.

There are several legitimate and profitable business one can do online and make money from. You don't have swindle people, invest 10k to get 50k or bring 2 people to bring 2 people before you make money online.

All those sh*t are the traps that scammers set for lazy people who don't want to invest in themselves to learn and master a skill that they can offer as services to people and make money.

Money is byproduct of value. If you offer people something of value, a solution to their problem, they will give you their money.

The reason some people struggle with salary jobs is because they don't want to learn any other thing than what they learned from school. They are so obsessed about their degrees.

The world has moved beyond degrees to skills and it moving towards AIs. If you must survive in this country, you must acquaint yourself with high income digital or tech skills.

Then use that skill to build a brand, sell products online or offer services to people who needs it and can afford it... you will be surprised how sapa will be flying away from you gradually..lol

Once again, thanks for sharing your story man. I appreciate and I pray for God's favour and protection to abide with you in the US 🇺🇸.

I also pray that God who helped you will also help everyone who is willing to pursue his or dreams including myself. It is well with all of us.

Stay safe, brother..

247Hustler:
Going solo: using freelancing to finance the dream

At the point of quitting my HR job in Lagos, I decided to create an account on Upwork. The site was easy to create an account but I found it difficult to decide what to include and not include so I could make my profile attractive to clients. Nonetheless, I read a couple of things online and used the information to set up my account, and then left the account as there was no time to apply for jobs.

However, a few weeks after I resigned from my job, I got invited for a permanent job that would pay about eight hundred thousand naira (#800,000) per month. It was a US-based company and the client was willing to hire many people for the same role. Since I have never submitted any proposal in the past, I struggled on what to include and not include in the proposal. Due to my inexperience, I couldn’t write a good proposal and answered the screening questions poorly. This made me the only one that did not get the job out the four of us that were invited to apply. Although I didn’t get the job, I was happy I was considered. Then I continued to apply on both LinkedIn and Upwork. I got two other ones around October and November but didn’t earn anything from them.

In December 2021, I was back in Ogun State and penniless again, but this time like the proverbial prodigal son, broke and penniless. My aunt cried when she saw me because she thought I needed stability and I was not going to achieve that with my pattern of life that was filled with costly adventures. She didn’t understand why I couldn’t just continue with my job on the Island since the pay was not totally bad for someone with that year of experience. But for me, it was just a transitional phase towards something bigger.

From January 2022, I became more aggressive with my application, and by the middle of February, I landed a gig with a company in the US. This job took about two months and I earned about one million naira (#1,000,000) for the first time by the end of the project. I later got another long-term project with a company in Ireland. I got other big projects that I declined because they would run throughout the whole year and I was expecting to leave the country before then. Overall and for the first time ever, I made about three million naira (#3,000,000) from freelancing within seven months!

omoluabiguy:
First I want to congratulate you for escaping the stage 1 struggle which is “Escaping Nigeria”

Secondly I want to welcome you to Stage 2 struggle which is “Newbie in Yankee” plus you are on student visa.

My guy you go still suffer and face a lot of humiliation ooo. A lot of realities await you but I believe you have the hustling spirit in you. If you can survive Naija, you’ll figure yourself out here too. Proud of you son! Keep the zeal afloat.

Whoknow:
Congratulations brother I am well encouraged from your story, I want to inform you that I jot down all the points you made from your story. I understand that there remained hope for those who refused to give up, also I learnt that you did not settle for less, you knew what you wanted and you went for it and there you are. More grace Brother.

Joebryan:
Big congratulations, man. I'm really happy for you and thanks for sharing your story. It's so inspiring.

What I learned from your story is that, anybody can achieve anything if they put their mind to it and work towards it.

That is a great lesson.

And I hope some people who believes that they cannot make a fortune online, would read and learn from this.

After taking and failing on several salary jobs, your biggest victory came through freelancing.

A lot of talented Nigerians are struggling with salary jobs, some are getting underpaid and would even go broke before end of the month.

I have also experienced it. Ever since I left school, I have worked in just 3 different places but my monthly salaries from these 3 places combine together is not up to what I now make in a week with just my Sample phone and HP laptop.

There are several legitimate and profitable business one can do online and make money from. You don't have swindle people, invest 10k to get 50k or bring 2 people to bring 2 people before you make money online.

All those sh*t are the traps that scammers set for lazy people who don't want to invest in themselves to learn and master a skill that they can offer as services to people and make money.

Money is byproduct of value. If you offer people something of value, a solution to their problem, they will give you their money.

The reason some people struggle with salary jobs is because they don't want to learn any other thing than what they learned from school. They are so obsessed about their degrees.

The world has moved beyond degrees to skills and it moving towards AIs. If you must survive in this country, you must acquaint yourself with high income digital or tech skills.

Then use that skill to build a brand, sell products online or offer services to people who needs it and can afford it... you will be surprised how sapa will be flying away from you gradually..lol

Once again, thanks for sharing your story man. I appreciate and I pray for God's favour and protection to abide with you in the US 🇺🇸.

I also pray that God who helped you will also help everyone who is willing to pursue his or dreams including myself. It is well with all of us.

Stay safe, brother..

Lamanii22:
awwwwn this your life story is Oscar worthy… I’m tearful now….

247Hustler:
The road to America

By the end of March 2022, I have received responses for all my school applications. I have four total offers with one being funded. I was very happy but I decided to keep calm as I have read several cases of people being denied visas at the embassy.

I proceeded to arrange for the payment of my SEVIS and visa fees. I had a little delay with the payment of my SEVIS fee, so I could not pay on time. For this reason, I missed the early dates that were released for the interview. When the money was finally paid, I started looking for interview dates in Abuja. This process was arguably one of the hardest as dates were always not available. After a series of sleepless nights and sleeping on my computer keyboard, I managed to get a date that was a few days to resumption. I picked this date and began my preparation for the visa interview.

When it was two days before my interview, I left Ogun State for Abuja by road. Prior to this time, I have read news of kidnappings on the road. Although the news greatly disturbed me and my loved ones, the flight cost was exorbitant and going for that option would create a big hole in my finances considering my current and future expenses.

I got to Abuja at night and lodged at a guesthouse for two nights. On the day of the interview, I woke up very early and went to the US Embassy at Diplomatic Drive. When I got there, I met other people who were the for the same purpose and I went straight to the front. About an hour later, we lined up and were told to go in after the checks.

Throughout the process, I was so nervous because the stakes were so high. Since I was the first person in the queue, I was also the first person to be interviewed by the visa officer. My interview lasted for less than three minutes and I was approved. I quickly took my files and left the embassy for the guesthouse. Then I called my family and friends to inform them about the good news. It seemed surreal! My visa has been approved and I will be going to America!

A few weeks later, I booked my flight and the travel was scheduled for December. After spending time with my family and loved ones, I departed Nigeria for the United States in December 2022.


Yes, dreams do come true! I hope someone will try again one more time before giving up on life.

247Hustler:
[b]The road to America[/]

A few weeks I departed Nigeria for the United States in December 2022.


Yes, dreams do come true! I hope someone will try again one more time before giving up on life.

Spanishmilf:
Can you just skip to the part where you made it to yankee… im more interested on your travel life
T for thanks no shades tho

247Hustler:
You can do it! Starting is always the hardest part

Sprumbaba:
Truck driver can make $40k a month but not just now. It is difficult.

247Hustler:
Thanks bro. Are you in the US? I just sent you a pm on nairaland. Let's connect if you're also here.

Dshocker:
Have you gotten a job yet

If you want to make money in the United States;

1.......IT
2....... Truck driving
3....... Medical doctor
4....... Nursing

If you are serious, you can be making $30,000-$50,000 a month driving truck.

Per annum you make $360,000-$600,000

Eriokanmi:
Well, yes. I can speak for myself and my uncle. None of my friends who did some ever regretted too. Google xantrex engineering, my uncle is the distributor for the west African countries. Engr Seyi Makinde, the oyo state governor isn't known to make today how he made it through oil and gas. He was already a billionaire before becoming governor.

At least, i know someone who knows him closely. The list is endless . If you feel you're comfortable wherever you are, it's fine. Everyone can't come back home. But Nigeria is a fertile land cos I can attest to this. That's my point. Before I came, Indians were dominating our sector. The moment I came, we had a reasonable share of the market. These people would come to Nigeria with one shirt and a pair of trousers but in a few years, they've become multi millionaires in dollars, same as Chinese. Look everywhere, our people are nowhere to be found and this is worrisome.

viodemus:
Good for you.

I think say you been dun comot trenches, not knowing say you go trenches transfer. You just got to the USA in December 2022. E almost sound like trenches dun finish.

I don't know what type of job you dey do, but construction na from $12/hr to $100/hr depending on skill level, skill level takes years and dedication. There are many other skilled jobs that start low - due to living Bill's. If you no get correct job, you never comot trenches. Go and do energy jobs, or go join army if you dey below 42 years. Maybe you get capital before you come, I no know that part. Go and figure out a realistic career path or follow up on an existing career. The key is relax a little bit, but start shaping your future in earnest. You still need to get used to societal norms and basic requirements. Maybe you get accomodation with family, because if na paddy thing, that tolerance go expire sooner than later.

Nice story. I just think a new chapter of your life experience has started. Don't under estimate the new reality that you are about to face, or else, na drugs/streetz/ for19 ways; no be joke when you ride that Part. So be steady skulking up except say na social media you go do there, maybe that is a means to survive and plan for a possible better future. I haven't read everything yet, so far, it's a nice read. Not war stories or pity me issue. But I think it is you are about to climb another mountain. Don't be distracted if with a plan, and try to stay healthy.

247Hustler:
Thanks for the well wishes. But I will not suffer again sir. Not even Nigeria could stop me. There will always be a way. If you're in the US, let's connect.

oscarnoble:
with your experience what can one venture into , I am really interested in given me a business idea please .u can mail me on nobosconstruction@gmail.com

Lastpharoah33:
Please and please gee, add me in these WhatsApp groups.


Looking forward to your response.